One year ago, the Prairie Falcons lost in the state basketball playoffs round of 16 teams and failed to join the field of eight teams that advanced to the final round at the Tacoma Dome. They obviously have no intention of experiencing that same fate this season.
Prairie won three of four games at the Class 3A bi-district tournament to finish third. The Falcons will now play Juanita at 4 p.m. at Bothell High School for the right to advance to the state tournament.
“I feel more confident this year than I did last year,’’ said Prairie coach Brett Johnson, in his second season guiding the program. “I know how the girls felt after last year’s loss. That was my promise. I told them I would get them there this year.’’
Even though his team suffered a 68-61 loss to Wilson in the semifinals of the bi-district tournament, Johnson feels his team is ready to take the final step for a couple of different reasons. One, is the Falcons play extremely hard.
“Our girls this year are playing really tough; they’re flying all over the place,’’ Johnson said. “They’re working hard, diving for loose balls, doing whatever it takes.’’
That type of play has led to some bumps and bruises. Leading scorer Cherita Daugherty has been nursing a sore knee and Jamie Phares banged up an elbow a couple of weeks ago, but both are playing through their aches and pains.
Another reason why Johnson is confident in his team this season is that the Falcons’ success doesn’t depend on just one of two players.
“That’s the greatest part of it is that we don’t know who is going to come out each game and do it,’’ said Johnson, whose team has an 18-6 season record. “We know each player is always going to contribute but there’s always one player who has a standout game.’’
In the 73-64 win over Lincoln in the game for third place at bi-district, Grace Prom had five three pointers and finished with 17 points. Phares added 13 points in the win.
In the loss to Wilson, Lindsay Asplund stepped up with a 19-point effort and Daugherty (17) and Emily Peters (10) also scored in double figures.
“Lindsay has really been stepping up lately,’’ Johnson said of Asplund. “She struggled for awhile but the last 10 games she has really stepped it up. I’m happy for her.’’
Johnson said the key for his team’s success the rest of the way is making shots.
“If you came to one of our practices, you would see that we can shoot the basketball,’’ Johnson said. “That’s the key.’’
The Falcons will continue to play their uptempo game, pressing on defense and pushing the ball on offense.
